Today@NCCapitol (March 13): State of the State

No other matters are on the legislative agenda Monday. WRAL News will carry the speech live on television and online.

Since the Democrat won election in November, he and Republican lawmakers have clashed over a number of issues, from education funding to who makes appointments to various offices. After snow derailed inauguration festivities in January, Monday is Cooper's first chance to speak at an occasion of state, and he could use the opportunity either to further challenge his legislative audience or to attempt to win over skeptical lawmakers.

Here are five things to watch for as the governor takes the podium:

This speech will give Cooper the chance to urge lawmakers to take another stab at rolling back the law. Will he blame them for past failures or lay out what he sees as the path forward on the matter?

Will Cooper highlight where he and lawmakers differ or play up their common ground?

​The two sides have fundamental differences of opinion about what the constitution calls for. Will he bring up this fight or let the ongoing court battle lie?

House Bill 2, education spending and the separation of powers fight have dominated the first two months of Cooper's term.

Can Cooper set more items on the public agenda? If so, will he lay out an agenda that Republicans can embrace or be laying out his aspirations for a home audience?

Legislative Republicans have not only challenged Cooper over the law but they have aired hard critiques of his appointments and other actions publicly.

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger will give the official Republican response to Cooper's speech, and reaction is sure to come from other GOP lawmakers as well as the state party.

Will they hear Cooper out in spirit or immediately attack his proposal with adjectives like "failed," "dishonest" and "bloated?"